Lamp clip for dry cells



Oct. 13, 19.53 M. o. FREDRlcKsoN 2,655,593

LAMP CLIP FOR DRY CELLS Filed Sept. 21, 1951 |514 EG. C;

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NW6/Mi @frag/MEMS Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

LAMP CLIP FOR DRY CELLS Milton 0. Fredrickson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 21, 1951, Serial No. 247,633 4 claims. (o1.24o-10.61)

This invention relates to an inexpensive electric lamp and dry cellcombination, and to a clip for mounting the lamp on a dry cell so thatthe lamp may be energized thereby.

A primary object oi the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensiveclip that can be readily applied to a dry cell and which will serve tosupport an electric lamp thereon so that the lamp may be energizedthereby In this manner, a dry cell and lamp may optionally be convertedinto either a. steadily burning lamp or into a flashlight by theapplication of the clip to the dry cell and positioning of the lampthereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clip for mountinglamps on dry cells which is very easily and extremely economical tomanufacture and which may bey readily applied to a dry cell and which,when in applied position, will serve to sturdily hold the lamp in a,position so as to be energized by the dry cell. The improved clip is soconstructed that it may be readily removed frozn one dry cell andapplied to another when a dry cell becomes exhausted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawingfor an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dry cell showing an electric lampmounted thereon by means of one form of clip embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a slight- 1y alternative formof clip that may be emp-loyed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another alternative form ofconstruction;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 4 4 uponFig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clip.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, II! indicates aconventional dry Cell having a central electric terminal II electricallyinsulated from the outside case or outside terminal l2. In the usual drycel1 construction the outside terminal I2 is frequently surrounded by acylindrical cardboard jacket I3, but the presence or absence of such ajacket is not essential insofar as the present invention is concerned. I4 indicates an electric lamp, the lament of which indicated at I5 iselectrically connested to a threaded base I6 within which there is acentral terminal I'I. The base I6 and the central terminal I'I areelectrically connected to the opposite sides of the lament I5 inaccordance with conventional construction.

The clip embodying the present invention consists of a single length ofwire centrally bent at I8 to form a loop I9 capable of receiving thethreads on the base I6. This loop is shown as having crossed ends 20 and2| which are slightly spaced from each other in a vertical direction sothat the plane of the loop corresponds to the pitch of the threads onthe base. It is not essential that the ends of the loop cross each otherbut the loop should be at least larger than a semi-circle so as toretain the base of the lamp therein. If desired, the loop may be formedof a plurality of superposed turns or windings, a1- though in the usualsituation a single turn or loop is sufficient. When the loop is formedof a single turn and has crossed ends the loop may be opened or closedslightly so as to assure a snug t with the threads of the base I6.

The loop I9 which constitutes a socket to receive the base of the lamphas its ends 20 and 2| bent downwardly as depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 toform two spaced arms or lengthwise extending members 22 and 23 whichhave their lengths arranged approximately parallel to the axis of thesocket formed by the loop I9. These lengthwise extending members extendthe complete length of the dry cell and as depicted in Figs. 1 and 5,the bottoms of these members are then bent inwardly as at 24 and 25 in adirection extending generally toward the axis of the socket. Theterminal portions 24 and 25 are adapted to be positioned beneath thebottom of the dry cell and cooperate with the loop in forming a type ofclamp holding the central terminal I'I of the lamp in rm engagement withthe central terminal Il.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom of the case of thedry cell is exposed and the terminal portions 24 and 25 engage thisexposed portion of the case so that the electric cir- Cuit through thefilament of the lamp is completed. In the form shown in Fig. 1 and inFig. 2, the lamp is continuously burning or continuously energized bythe dry cell when the clip and lamp are in position thereon. As a meansfor retaining the clip on the dry cell, sections 28 and 29 of pressuresensitive tape may be employed to adhesively fasten the arms orlengthwise extending members 22 and 23 to the cardboard jacket I3.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, the terminal portions 24 and 25 aresomewhat extended and terminate in hooks 26 and 2l. These hooks may bepositioned over a bar or transverse wire B to suspend the dry cell andlamp thereon. For example, in a lantern, such as a Japanese lantern orin a Halloween pumpkin, the lantern or pumpkin, as the case may be, maybe equipped with a transverse wire or bar B and the combinationsuspended therefrom so as to illuminate the lantern.

Whenever the dry cell becomes exhausted the pressure sensitive tapes 28and '29 may be peeled from the jacket and the clip and lamp removed. Asthe adhesive on the tapes remains tacky these same tapes may be employedto applythe'clip-and lamp to a fresh dry cell.

In Figs. 3 and 4, an alternative form-'of tconstruction is disclosedWhereinthefjacket .-43.-is removed from the outside case or terminal ofthe dry cell. The clip and lamp are-'applied thereto but sections 30 and3| of insulating materialareV interposed between the(Y lengthwise ex--tcmling members ;22 -and4V 23 to electricallyinsulate these membersfromthelsides ofthe case. The-:tapesections .28 and 29 may be employed'which .are-'of such `length as toiextend beyond `the 1endsfof :theinsulatingmaterial Iand thus --ffastenfthe clip yand the sectionsofinsulating materialto the case. In a similarmanner,A a

disc` of Ainsulating material indicated at. .-32 is interposed; betweenthe bottom of the case and the inwardly-extending portions:Y 24gandiv25.

When the clipnis :applied: in this manner portions; 33-ffand 1341 ofIthe lengthwise extending members.22 and-.23 are `disposed closely.adjacent --butdn spaced relation to the outside terminal l2. Theseportions can-be.-'flexed. byA the application o-.pressure -intoengagement with the case \|2,.-thus closing*the-circuit'through thefilament of the lamp. 'When these portions are released f their inherent,resiliencyxreturns themto a. position spaced from-the case, thusautomatically opening the circuit. v The flexed'position is shown -indotted :lines on Fig. 4 and-the full-line .posif. tion shown on Fig; 4illustratesthe normal posi- -tion occupied by the por-tions.-V 33.-.and34.

.- this 4-mannerpthe -clip enables a llamp -and dry -cellto beeasilyvand quickly converted` intoa ashlight.

In lieu ofremovingthe. jacket l3 and theiapf plication-of the sections-.3IJ vand 3| of insulating material an .opening maybe cut in theA,jacket .-Iluto expesea-portioncofcthe case: -I2 therethe same manneras above-described.

l It .will fbe -appreciated .from-the :above-dea .scribed construction`that a very. simple land inexpensive clip is provided which willVenable-.the

lamp vto-be firmly. mounted on a dry-'cell and yheld inV position sothat its central :terminal .l1

is pressed against the central terminal-II.

. .the -two lengthwise extending portions -22 and 23 `are spaced fromeach otherand -are fastened to theside of the.- dry cell, these portionsco- .operateto hold the socket-and consequently the lamp, against.lateral displacement-relative'to 'the dry cell. Optionally, the clipmaybe. used to cause the lamp to be continuously energized as depicted inFig. 1, or to be intermittently energized as-depicted in Figs. 3 .and.4.If desired, the clip may also be employed to suspend the combinationfrom a suspending structure B as depicted in Fig. 2.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit 5 and scope of the invention as dened by theappended claims.

I claim: l. A device of the class described comprising a single lengthof wire bent to provide a pair lofof .spaced4 parallel lengthwiseAextending members,'the space betweenthe 'members being less than thediameter of a dry cell, one end of each vmember being connected to theother by a loop, lthe` plane'- of which is substantially at right anglesto the length of the members forming a-'scketada-pted to receive thebase of an elec- .,.tric lamp.. the axis .of the loop being equidistantfrom the members so that when the members are both held in positionagainst the cylindrical surface of a dry cell, the axis of the loop willcoin- -fcide;substantiallyfwiththe. axis-of the vdry cell thusmaintaining the central contact ofthe lamp -in line with the-centralterminal of the..dry.cell, the free ends of the members extendinginwardly x-generally towardthe axis ofthe loop and being ,adapted to. beposi-tionedfbeneath the bottom .of aI dry cell, the-.distance between`.the free` ends and theloop-beingv such that the.centra.l. contact of ftheV lamp-twill be --pressed against the central Aterminal of the drycell.

.Y 2.'.Affdevice offthe classi described comprising a single llength ofwire-bent, to--provide-. a. pair of spaced-parallellengthwise .extending.mem- 'bers-yV the space between the; membersbeing. less 'than thediameter-of a dry-cell,.one end ofeach member being connected tothe-other by aloop. the plane of which is substantially atright-anglesto the length-:ofthe members -vforming asocket adapted -to receive-thebaseof` an ,electric lamp, 0 the- -axisof'the -loopbeingequidistant from.the members so that when the-,members--are lboth-held--in--positionagainst-thecylindricalfsurface of a dry cell;-the-axis of the-.loop will vcoincide substantially-withltheaxis-'of the drycellfthus maintainingfthe-central-contact of the lamp in line with Ythecentralterminalof the dryv cell, .the-freer ends .ofthe membersextendinginwardly ,.generallytowardtheaxis ofthe loop and-being adaptedto-be-positioned.-beneath the bottom-:of a dry cell,.the.-distance-between the.free ends andthe loop-beingv suchthat thecentral contact :of the llamp willzbe- -pressed against the .centralterminal of the dry cell, the extremeiends'of-themembersterminating--in--hooks by which the de- .-vice-may-be suspended.

3. A device of the class described comprising a f single. length:fofwire-bent ltocprovide a'pair of spaced parallel -length-wise-`extending -mexn- ---'bers-,- the ,space fbetweenf the' members beingless 60 than the diameter of a dry-cell, one-endo(V each memberbeing-'connected' to the i other by a loop, the :plane ofwhich issubstantially at right-angles to the length -ofthe members-forming asocket adapted--torreceive the base of -an electric lamp, g-theaxisotthe loop` beingequidistantrt-romrthe members .so 4 that. when themembers are both held- .in position@ againste the cylindricalsurface ofa `dry-cell, the axis-of the -lo'op wil-lcoincide substantially with theaxis ofthe dry-,ceILthus 'I0-.maintainingthe-,centralcontact of. thelamp in line with the. central terminal of the dry cell,- the extremeends. fof.. the `.members --terminating r. in hookskby .which the devicemaybe-suspended.

. 4;.A-,device-rof the class .described `comprising 75. a single` lengthofv wire bent to.- provide a pair oi spaced parallel lengthwiseextending members, the space between the members being less than thediameter of a dry cell, one end of each member being connected to theother by a loop, the plane of which is substantially at right angles tothe length of the members forming a socket adapted to receive the baseof an electric lamp, the axis of the loop being equidistant from themembers so that when the members are both held in position against thecylindrical surface of a dry cell, the axis of the loop will coincidesubstantially with the axis of the dry cell thus maintaining the centralcontact of the lamp in line With the central terminal of the dry cell,the free ends of the members extending inwardly generally toward theaxis of the loop and being adapted to be positioned beneath the bottomof a dry cell, the distance between the free ends and the loop beingsuch that the central contact of the lamp will be pressed against thecentral terminal of the dry cell, the extreme ends of the membersterminating in hooks by which the device may be suspended, the hooks 6being substantially diametricallyvopposed to said loop and curved in adirection away from said loop.

MILTON O. FREDRICKSON.

Publication: Popular Mechanics, September 1945, page 126.

